DeChambeau to lead USA as Ryder Cup pairings revealed for Bethpage showpiece

Ryder Cup officials announced the 2025 pairings Thursday evening, with Bryson DeChambeau tapped to lead Team USA in the opening foursomes against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at Bethpage Black. The session is set to begin at 7:10 a.m. local time on the first tee, as the United States begins its defense on home soil after Europe reclaimed the trophy in Rome in 2023. DeChambeau will pair with Justin Thomas for the opening test, a combination the Americans hope can set an early tone on a sunlit morning in New York.

Rahm and Hatton will lead Europe in the first match, facing DeChambeau and Thomas. Rahm and Hatton were undefeated during Europe’s Rome 2023 victory, and their chemistry on Bethpage’s historic layout will be watched closely as the European plan begins to unfold. The second match slots Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, a pairing test that could hinge on the personal dynamics and current form of the growing American rookie and the European veteran pairing.

Luke Donald’s call to split the Aberg-Viktor Hovland pairing marks a notable strategic shift from Rome, where the duo helped pave Europe’s path to victory. Aberg will join Fitzpatrick for the second match against Scheffler and Henley, while Hovland joins a different pairing in the remaining two matches, a design intended to balance perceived strengths across the board. The third tie will feature Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who found success together in the Rome foursomes, taking on Collin Morikawa and Harris English. McIlroy’s continued partnership with Fleetwood is one of several veteran–rookie combinations Europe is hoping to leverage as the captaincy reshapes the lineup for the U.S. challenge.

The fourth and final foursome of the session pairs Robert MacIntyre with Viktor Hovland against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, a match that could tilt the momentum if MacIntyre’s left-handed power and Hovland’s accuracy synchronize well against two of the Americans’ most consistent performers. The slate of morning foursomes on opening day sets a tone for the rest of the weekend, with the U.S. hoping to strike early and Europe aiming to maintain the advantage built during the Rome victory.

Bethpage Black hosts the event, bringing a familiar U.S. course that has produced dozens of memorable Ryder Cup moments. The 2025 edition continues a long tradition of match-play strategy where captains juggle partnerships to maximize momentum, while players adapt to the unique feel of two- and four-ball formats across Friday through Sunday. As the teams assemble for the first competitive action, spectators will be watching not only for individual performance but for how these pairings gel under the pressure of a high-stakes, national-team showdown.